Mercer signs Prep's Pylant

Nate Pylant holds up his scholarship form from Mercer University after signing with the Bears to play football Friday. With Pylant is his mother, Kirsten (left), and his father, Stan. In the back row from left are football coaches Harry Bacheller and Tray White and Rodger Murchison.

Friday was an emotional day for Augusta Preparatory Day School’s Nate Pylant.

In a year he has deemed a roller coaster, Pylant will be graduating on a high after signing a letter-of-intent to play football for the Division I Mercer University Bears (Macon, Ga.).

“We’re (Augusta Prep) a family and I’m reminiscing on a lot of fun times I’ve had here,” said Pylant somberly afterward. “It’s hard to see it go.”

His senior year started off in a big way playing quarterback on the Cavaliers football team. He rushed for 845 yards and 12 touchdowns as they went 11-1 and won the Glory for Christ state championship. When the Cavaliers won the state title it wasn’t Pylant under center, however, having dislocated his elbow in practice two days before the game. More bad news came the following week as the scholarship he thought he had to play for Davidson College fell through.

Mercer had shown interest in Pylant before Christmas, but they didn’t get back to him until February as his new position coach was out of touch while dealing with family issues.

And with a new position coach, Pylant will also be playing a new position at Mercer – receiver.

“I’m a little small (for quarterback),” Pylant said. “I was in the conversation to go to (Georgia) Tech and be a scout team triple-option quarterback and just be a practice squad quarterback. It’s crazy how things work out.”

Pylant’s mother, Kirsten, was delighted that her son was heading to Mercer. “It seems like a really good fit for him,” she said.